Penn State Basketball: Peter Alexis Doesn't Expect To Return For His Sophomore Year

Pat Chambers looks over his team during practice. Image Credit: Ben Jones, StateCollege.com

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Standing next to the hoop in the main gym of the Bryce Jordan Center, freshman forward Peter Alexis addressed the media about his status with the team moving forward.

"It wouldn't be the best for me to stay here and play the bench, when I could have the chance to go somewhere else and make an impact." Alexis said.

Alexis, who has yet to see the floor this season, had been talking to coach Pat Chambers about his future with the team following the Nittany Lions loss to Saint Joes' in late November. Alexis' lack of playing time was due in large part to the depth at the forward position which features Jon Graham, Billy Oliver, Ross Travis, and Sasa Borovnjak.

While Alexis does not intend on returning next season he does plan on staying with the Nittany Lions for the remainder of the year.

Heading in to Chambers' weekly press conference there had been some online speculation that Chambers was "cutting" Alexis, allowing him to free up a scholarship for the 2012 recruiting class.

Even though Alexis' absence does provide the Nittany Lions with an additional scholarship, Chambers stressed that the decision was made with Alexis' best interests in mind and that the recruiting opportunity was not a factor.

"I'm not an executioner," Chambers said. "I have compassion, we're just trying to figure out what's best for Pete. We sat down and he wants to play. I can't guarantee him that he's going to play. I try an be as honest as I can."

"I give him credit," Chambers said. "Some kids might want to come out and hit the bench that's his four year career. But not Pete. He wants to go play, but I can't promise him that right now. I give him credit, anybody can sit back and enjoy the rewards of the chartered planes, and the meals and all the things that come with it, but not this kid, he's like "I want to play."

Penn State takes on Wisconsin Tuesday night at 8 P.M in the Bryce Jordan Center.

Notes:

Billy Oliver is indefinitely out with concussion-like symptoms. Oliver had missed almost all of last season with a similar injury. There is no timetable for his return.

Trey Lewis will have a MRI later in the week to determine the extent of a stress fracture in his lower back.